| Latin Name: | Hippophae rhamnoides |
| English Name: | Sea buckthorn |
| French Name: | Argousier |
| Family: | Elaeagnaceae |
| Origin: | Quebec, Canada |
History and Origin
Sea Buckthorn is a small thorny shrub native to Europe and Asia. It is now cultivated in North America. The flowers are very small and greenish. They appear in April, before leaves. The fruits are small orangey bays with an ovoid form.
Sea Buckthorn is used since ancient times for its health benefits. Its Latin botanical name Hippophae shows well its ancient use and qualities: hippos means « horse » and phaos means « light ». At that time, sea buckthorn branches were given to horses to make them gain weight and give them a shiny coat.